Patients' Rights & Responsibilities

Deaconess recognizes that patients have rights and responsibilities to participate in decisions related to their health. These rights and responsibilities also apply to their legally designated representative (surrogate), patient-designated representative (support person), and/or the parents/guardians of minors.

You have the right to expect that (within limits imposed on us by law) we will:

Provide safe, high-quality medical care within the hospital’s capability and mission and without regard to race, creed, religion, ability or disability, age, gender, ethnic or national origin, lifestyle or ability to pay.

Provide care that shows support of your rights and respect for you and your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences.

Ensure that you are cared for by competent staff whose identity and status and relationship to the hospital are made known to you and that you are given reasons for proposed changes in professional staff providing your care.

Respect your privacy and confidentiality of your records and provide a Notice of our Privacy Practices.

Inform you if a proposed treatment involves a research or experimental protocol.

Inform you of the expected and actual outcomes of your treatment, including unanticipated outcomes.

Involve you in the development and implementation of your plan of care and in the resolution of any dilemmas involving your care.

Honor your decision to accept or reject proposed care and to provide an explanation of the medical consequences of a refusal.

Ensure that your refusal to accept a proposed plan of care will not prevent you from receiving other appropriate services.

Involve family or others as designated by you, your support person or your surrogate to participate in your care.

Provide treatment without regard to any business or financial considerations or incentives that may be involved.

Obtain your consent prior to recording or filming any aspect of your care, whether for internal or external purposes; honor your request to cease recording or filming; accept your revocation of consent for use up to a reasonable period before the film or recording is used.

Provide continuous, coordinated and appropriate care during and after any hospitalization and advise you of your options if we are unable to meet your needs.